Shooter Now: Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio is X factor, David Kahn says

Ricky Rubio warms up with the team before the Timberwolves-Milwaukee Bucks game in Minneapolis, Friday, November 30, 2012. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

David Kahn said it's hard to predict exactly how different his team will be when point guard Ricky Rubio first returns to the Minnesota Timberwolves' lineup.

"He has a considerable impact on the game, as we saw last year, on both ends of the floor," the Wolves' president of basketball operations said Wednesday, Dec. 12. "And yet he hasn't played with some of the players that we've acquired.

"I've been watching practices, and it's been fun to watch, and I expect everything will be fine. But I really can't give you a specific answer as to what it will be like. It's a little too open-ended."

Rubio, who underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee in March, likely will make his season debut Saturday.

Kahn declined to predict Rubio's return date. He did say that when Rubio comes back, coach Rick Adelman will have to adjust the playing time of his other guards.